Shipyard Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shipyard Railway |
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Car #509 in Richmond
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| Overview | |
| Owner | United States Maritime Commission |
| Service | |
| Operator(s) | Key System |
| History | |
| Opened | January 18, 1943 |
| Closed | September 30, 1945 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrification | 600 V DC overhead lines |
The Shipyard Railway was a special electric train line. It helped thousands of workers get to the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, California during World War II. These shipyards built many ships very quickly for the war effort.
The United States Maritime Commission paid for the railway. The Key System company built and ran it. The train line was built very fast using materials they could find. It opened on January 18, 1943. The trains used to be old elevated cars from New York City. The Shipyard Railway closed on September 30, 1945, after the war ended.
Contents
What Was the Shipyard Railway?
The Shipyard Railway was an important part of the war effort. It moved workers to the busy shipyards. These shipyards were building ships for the United States Navy and other allies. Many people moved to the area to work there. This created a huge need for public transportation.
The railway was a quick solution to this problem. It helped make sure workers arrived on time. This allowed the shipyards to keep building ships quickly.
Where Did the Trains Go?
The Shipyard Railway had a long route. It started near the border of Emeryville and Oakland. Here, workers could switch from other Key System trains.
The line then went north through different towns. These included Berkeley and Albany. It crossed over the main tracks of the Southern Pacific Railroad. This was done using a special bridge. The railway then continued north on its own tracks.
The trains reached the shipyards in Richmond. There were stops at Shipyard #1, #2, #3, and #4. These stops were important for workers getting to their jobs.
- Express trains ran during shift changes. They only stopped at the shipyards and main transfer points.
- Local trains ran every 35–40 minutes. They made more stops along the way. A local trip took about 45 minutes.
How Was the Railway Built?
Building the Shipyard Railway was a big challenge. It was wartime, so new materials were hard to find. The builders had to use whatever they could.
- Reused Tracks: Some parts of the railway used old tracks. These tracks came from other abandoned train lines.
- Salvaged Materials: Rails were taken from old, unused lines. Even the overhead power lines came from other places. Some were from the Bay Bridge.
- Creative Bridges: The bridge over the Southern Pacific Railroad was very clever. Its main beams were made from old railroad turntables. These are big spinning platforms used to turn trains around. The wood for the bridge came from old ferry docks.
The railway opened in stages. The first part opened on January 18, 1943. It reached Shipyard #2. Then, it quickly extended to Shipyard #1 and Shipyard #3. This helped stop the need for many buses. Buses used valuable gasoline and tires, which were scarce during the war.
What Kind of Trains Were Used?
The trains on the Shipyard Railway were quite unique. The United States Maritime Commission found old "El" (elevated) cars from New York City. These trains were made of wood and were very old. They were built in 1890!
These cars were originally designed for high platforms. They also used a "third rail" for power. But the Shipyard Railway used overhead wires. So, the cars had to be changed.
- Pantographs: The Key System didn't have enough pantographs (the arm that connects to the overhead wire). So, they put one pantograph on every two cars.
- Roof Challenges: The old wooden roofs of the cars were not strong enough for the pantographs.
- Steps: Some high platforms were built. But for street stops, some cars had to have special steps added.
These unique New York City cars became a symbol of the Shipyard Railway.
Legacy of the Shipyard Railway
After World War II ended, the Shipyard Railway was no longer needed. The Key System company was offered the railway. But they thought it would not make money. So, they said no.
The Shipyard Railway closed on September 30, 1945. It was quickly taken apart.
Today, two of the Shipyard Railway cars are saved. Cars #561 and #563 are at the Western Railway Museum. Car #561 has been fixed up and can still run. It is believed to be the oldest working electric train car in the United States! Car #563 has also been restored to look like it did.
